Blue Cheer

USA, 1966–2009

San Francisco group regarded as proto-metal pioneers. Their 1968 cover of 'Summertime Blues' was one of the first proto-metal recordings.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Blue Cheer and 3 artists Blue Cheer influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Blue Cheer?

• Jimi Hendrix — Hendrix's extreme guitar volume and distortion was the primary model for Blue Cheer's proto-metal sound.
• Eddie Cochran — Blue Cheer's cover of Cochran's 'Summertime Blues' was their signature track and one of the first proto-metal recordings.
• Muddy Waters — Muddy Waters' electric blues was taken to its loudest extreme by Blue Cheer.

Which artists did Blue Cheer influence?

• Danzig — The loudest thing available in 1968, and the one that connects the Sabbath weight to American garage rock rather than English blues.
• Kyuss — Blue Cheer's primal, overdriven proto-metal is a clear ancestor of Kyuss's fuzz-drenched sound.
• Fu Manchu — Blue Cheer's overdriven proto-metal is a clear ancestor of Fu Manchu's fuzzed sound.